Where does the time go?!

So, I got in posts of the boys birthdays (thankfully!), but I realized I left out some vital events that have happened the past few months!  Here is a SUPER QUICK synopsis of a few events I want to remember!

Some sweet dance moves my boys have learned from watching SYTYCD with me over the summer

Getting to meet our new sweet nephew, Jason, who we fell in love with instantly

The boys first day of school

Drake is starting in the 4s this year and he has the same teachers Hunter had.  (We were keeping our fingers crossed because we LOVED Hunter's teachers...all though I have heard incredible things about all of the 4s teachers)  Anyways, I was just blown away at how much Hunter had learned and how many new things he tried.   I didn't want to leave parent's night because I just love hearing about all the things they do in class.   From learning to greet people with a smile and look them in the eye and call them by name; to knowing a bee is made up of a thorax, abdomen and head; to eating new foods like quinoa, leeks, kale and other things I have never even eaten, to writing all the letters of the alphabet and writing sentences; to learning to add and subtract; to being aware of recycling and I could go on and on.  Point is, it is an amazing class and I know Drake will do great!

And I cannot believe this is Hunter's last year of pre-school!  He is so big and I feel like he was just born!  The best quote I have ever heard when you have children is

"The days are long, but the years are short."

And I couldn't agree more.  I am certain I will be a mess when he goes off to Kindergarten!  

This was our attempt at getting a good picture on his first day of school...which you can see how many times it took me to get a decent one. And I didn't really get a decent one(the many faces of Hunter!)

 

 

 And then I mistakenly told Hunter he did not have to smile so big.  And this is what I got...

Then this is the best we got!

But regardless, Hunter loves school so much and just thrives there.  I have no doubt he will be more than ready for Kindergarten, in fact I feel like he is in Kindergarten.  They are using the "Reading Without Tears"  program and he already sounds out almost any word and picks words out of books and reads them to me.  We will pass a work on a sign like "lake" and he will tell me it has a silent "e" on the end.  I  am sure it is the norm but being my first child I am just so amazed.

A Visit from good friends

Some of our best friends, the Handeys, came and stayed with us for 5 days and it went way too fast.  Their little boy Dillon is just so darn cute and the 3 boys got along great the whole time!

 This was us having dinner in the dark because the electricity went out

Hunter's Interests

Hunter is the sweetest child to animals and I can tell he has the love for animals in him the way I do.  He loves to pet them, feed them, take care of them.  He doesn't walk by either Divot or Bella (or any dog or cat for that matter) without petting him or her.  I would be shocked if he is not a vet or some type of wildlife specialist one day.

Hunter has also adopted a love for chess....and he is actually really good!  I have no idea how to play it myself and he tells me what moves I can make.

Soccer Season

I cannot believe another whole season of soccer has gone by and I did not post one picture.  This is Hunter's 4th soccer season and by far the best season yet.  He moved up to the 5&6 year old league even though he was still 4 for over half of it.  But all of his buddies from school are older.  But this league they split up the boys and girls, whereas the 3&4 year old league is co-ed.  They also go from 5 players to 7 players and there is a goalie now.  Which means the games are pretty low scoring, but Hunter even scored a goal in his last game and each game got better and better.  He did NOT want the season to end and is excited about playing again!

Getting to play goalie

Hunter loved being a part of the "Red Fireballs" this season.  And 10 out of the 12 kiddos on the the team were 5 so they will be back together next season!!

Drake's team also happened to be red, but he is obviously in the 3&4 year old league.  But Drake just loves sports of all kinds and he just dominated.    He kicked in a ton of goals, and then would run back and stop the other team from scoring.  I don't mean to brag, but I tell you, that child can play him some soccer!   EXCEPT for of course the weekend that Grammie and Pop came in town to watch the boys play and Hunter had pneumonia the weekend they were here so he couldn't play, and Drake didnt start that game and as he watched the other team score from the sidelines, he then proceeded to cry and refuse to play the rest of the game.  I felt so bad for Grammie and Pop!  But hopefully there will be many more chances to see the boys in action!

The "Red Lightning"

Captain Drake is 4!!!

Well, poor guy his birthday was over 2 weeks ago, but since then, Hunter has had a virus and then pneumonia, and we have barely been home!  Between soccer games, birthday parties, funerals, weddings, fundraisers and more we are slightly crazed over here!  But we are so proud of our sweet, smart, funny, athletic, and laid back (except when he whines) little guy.  He is such a joy and we are all so lucky to have him in out life.  He is my baby that loves to:

 "Nuggle" with his daddy (and mommy when daddy is not there);

Asks for a "tennis shoes" when his nose is running and needs a tissue;

Will watch a full football game, ice hockey game, baseball game or whatever sport is on (aside from golf) and not only that but when the boys get to watch TV, Hunter of course wants to watch cartoon and Drake asks to watch any game that is recorded on the DVR.  

Is actually an incredible athlete himself

Loves to read books and loves to "read" them to you too

Loves to dress up, play in the kitchen and play house

Loves to wear sports jerseys

Loves to do art

Is getting pretty good at writing (thanks to school and watching his brother who can write full sentences now.) 

Will wear just about anything I get out for him in the morning (unlike his brother)

Loves animals

Says "Happy Birshday," "Urrplane," (so sometimes I call him Nelly) "Cubers" (for covers), 

"Coach Savan" (Coach Saban), "Can you Pawes the TV?"  and much much more that we love too much to correct him on. 

ANYWAYS....

The morning of his birthday, which was September 21st.

Donut birthday tower (per his request)!

I actually just love this picture of Hunter's bed head and pretending to blow out the candles

Blowing out the candles!

Just some typical silliness

Getting to open a present early (yes he is standing on the table...no I did not put him up there)

When we got to school that day, they have steps 1-3: 

1. hang up your bag, 2. wash your hands, 3. read the morning message...

and this was the message that morning!  His teachers made a book out of his classmates birthday wishes for him, which he pulled out of his bag and we currently read daily... still.

This is a picture with some of his friends from class.  And I am sure a ding-bat.  I read to his class too and then forgot to take a picture of them!!!!!  grrrrr!!!! 

THEN on Thursday, when Grammie and Pop came to town!!!  The boys were so excited and Pop had made this AWESOME treasure chest which held the boys birthday presents inside.  What a cool treat!!!!  Drake's birthday party was Pirate Themed so Pop knew it would be a HUGE hit!

presents inside...

And lots of gold coins!!!

It was so nice to have Grammie and Pop in town.  I ended up having to take Hunter back to the doctor that morning so it was a treat to have them there to help me get ready for the party.

And here is Pirate Pop

(this might be my favorite picture ever!)

When the kiddos arrived the got some pirate mustaches, only if they wanted of course.  It was so cute!

The treasure chest as the center piece of course!  And thanks to my mom who happened to have a TON of plastic beads and coins, PLUS Grammie had a bunch of gold coins in the chest too so it was truly a family effort!

The pirate cake (which of course I did not get a picture of without the lid off the top of the cake)

And the handsome pirate himself (you just may be seeing this again come Halloween!)

As the kiddos arrived we started with some pin the parrot on the pirate's shoulder, which occupied them well enough until everyone arrived.

Running to the first treasure hunt of gold coins, chocolate coins, plastic beads and diamond rings!

Coming back with some loot!

Then making an attempt to get a group picture (which was not very successful) while we waited for Captain Hook to arrive.  We told them to say "aarrrgggh" and it was hilarious!  They screamed for about 2 or 3 minutes straight.

And then...KYLE (I mean Captain Hook) MAKES THE BIRTHDAY ONCE AGAIN!!!  He was so good and hilarious.  Here is walked up to the kiddos with a "prisoner."

Drake is running away here because "Captain Hook" kept asking "Captain Drake" if he had stolen his booty.  I honestly have no idea if Drake was scared or just being silly.  But I do know that  Drake still asks me if daddy, I mean Captain Hook, was joking when he asked him that.   And I mean literally asks me as in today!

Giving the kiddos their first clue on the treasure hunt

There were 6 stops where they received prizes and then ended with at the cake table.  It was fun, but possible a little long for 4 year olds....

The favors

Aaaand of course no family photo, and this was the best we got of the 3 of us.  Pretty pathetic.  And Drakey and I didn't even get one with Captain Hook!  Oh well....I guess we are just glad we survived the party!